Dear LPOSD Families,

October is a colorful month, full of childhood memories — joyous times, like running through a blanket of crimson leaves or bundling up to face the chill of a dark night in pursuit of sweets and treats🎃. Although the warmth of September fades, the countdown to Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations is underway. Before our fall colors completely fade into winter, share a moment with your family breathing in the beauty of where we live!

Addressing deficient facilities — one of our Strategic Plan’s four pillars — was at the forefront in October, and will be next month, as well. Board Trustees approved a draft 10-year facilities plan, which begins with an $18.5 million renovation project at SMS, funded by the legislature through the School Modernization Facilities Fund allocation. LPOSD was also awarded an ICRS (Idaho Career Ready Students) grant to construct a new career technical center.

Part of my due diligence includes gathering stakeholder input. To that end, there are two opportunities scheduled Tuesday, November 12 to share your thoughts: 9:30 a.m. Coffee Klatch at Bernklau Cafe and 4 p.m. public meeting at Sandpoint Middle School. Tell us what you think. We care!

With Much Gratitude for your continued support, bwm

Dr. Becky Meyer, Superintendent

Thanks to our “One Trusted Adult” initiative — which is gaining traction — students feel supported in school and have healthy, secure relationships with staff. Near the start of each school year, every student is asked if they can identify a Trusted Adult. This fall, nearly 92% affirmed at least one Trusted Adult, an increase of 7.5% over last year. The process is repeated in the spring to ensure every student is reached. Last year’s spring results were phenomenal — Every Student, Every Day!

• 👉 Parents have the ultimate decision whether to send their children to school or keep them home! If you feel it is unsafe, call the office and their absence will be marked as excused.
• 👉 Road conditions are the primary factor in deciding school closures during heavy snowfall. Monitoring of local road conditions and weather begins at 4 a.m. using the National Weather Service and radar imagery.
• 👉 We try to make delay and closure decisions by 5 a.m. to allow time for parents and staff to receive communication.
• 👉 A two-hour delayed start may be utilized if road conditions are expected to improve mid-morning. Bus routes and morning pickup times follow the two-hour morning delay schedule.

Professional Learning Communities allow educators opportunities to directly enhance teaching and learning by sharing best practices and brainstorming innovative ways to improve and drive student achievement. During LPOSD’s professional development days this month, teachers and educators analyzed student data collectively, and worked together to identify and implement strategies that will improve student achievement. Their work together creates a culture of continuous learning and collaboration within our school community. The district is proud of their dedication and for supporting the growth of “Every student, Every day!

Andre Johansen - U.S. Navy - VF-84 USS Nimitz - Sandpoint Middle School

This year’s new “soft start” initiative for kindergarteners proved beneficial for both families and educators.

For kindergarteners, the first full day of school was delayed by two days, providing teachers with two open days to assess kids and walk them through routines and expectations before officially starting. They were on campus for screenings, meeting staff and touring classrooms. Teachers answered questions, addressed concerns and helped students who were having trouble transitioning.

“When the first day of school came, it was the smoothest start to any kindergarten year that I have ever had,” said Northside Elementary kindergarten teacher Lori Padilla.

Michelle McNelley, a Washington Elementary kindergarten teacher, said, “Many people don't realize how much help our little learners need. Going to the lunch room, recess, and riding the bus is a big new thing for our little ones. The soft start allowed us to focus on kinder.”

After the positive feedback, the district is currently planning to use the same format next year.

Parents or guardians whose children ride a Lake Pend Oreille School District bus are encouraged to use a new, innovative bus tracking app that provides real-time location and arrival information to your smartphone. Interested in knowing where your child's bus is every step of the way? Follow these steps:

• Find BusRight on the Google Play or Apple App Store.

• Request an “invitation email” from LPOSD Transportation.

• Register for a BusRight account using the LPOSD “invitation email.”

• Log in to your account using the credentials you created.

• To obtain the “invitation email” from LPOSD, you must call transportation at (208) 263-3522 and make the request over the phone between 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• The email will contain a link to create the account with BusRight.

The Sandpoint Middle School boys’ and girls’ tennis teams were all set to make history this month! They were scheduled to face Lewiston Middle School in a first-ever middle school interscholastic match. Sadly, Lewiston canceled — just a temporary setback because they are determined to find an opponent.

“I’ve been begging schools to start a middle school team,” said longtime tennis coach Kent Anderson. SMS has fielded a middle school tennis team for the past 20 years but had no school to compete against, until Lewiston launched one this year.

Over the years, Anderson believes he’s spoken to more than 50 schools about fielding a team. So he was noticeably excited about the news at a recent SMS tennis practice at Traverse Park.

LPOHS students were recently treated to an experiential learning opportunity at Trestle Creek to observe the spawning kokanee, an annual event east of Sandpoint.

The structured educational event centered on the Idaho Fish and Game and volunteers presenting material at five topical outdoor stations: Poetry, Kokanee and Water, Fish Identification, Bear Safety and Tree Identification.

Students agreed that it was good to get off campus, to take a break from routine and engage meaningfully with the natural world.